STORM Caroline is smashing into Scotland this morning, bringing gales of up to 90mph. The storm is being energised by cold air coming out of the arctic, the Met Office has said.

In what will be the third named storm of the season, Storm Caroline is bringing travel disruption and chaos to Scotland and northern England.

The storm involves a number of low pressure systems and as it moves towards Scotland it is energised by the cold air coming from the arctic.

Gales of up to 90mph are expected across most of Scotland throughout Thursday, as two weather warnings are in place from the Met Office.

Amber and yellow warnings are in place for Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England from 6am on Thursday.

The storm is currently focused around the Northern Isles and especially around the Orkney and Shetland Islands, which is where there is an amber warning for wind, until midnight on Thursday and a further yellow warning until midnight on Friday.

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The greatest impact will be across northern Scotland where there is an amber warning in place and gusts of 80mph are expected.

The amber wind warning is from 6am on Thursday until midnight for Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Star and the Orkney and Shetland Islands and a separate yellow warning for wind is in place for only the Orkney and Shetland Islands all day on Friday.

Another yellow warning is in place all day on Thursday over much of Scotland and parts of the north of Northern Ireland where gusts of up to 80mph are possible over high ground.

Grahame Madge, Met Office spokesperson said: "It's developing as we speak, meteorologically its development is quite complicated as it involves a number of low pressure systems.

"It's because of cold air coming out of the arctic which energises the system and deepens the system.

"It's basically as a result of this development and its energised by cold air coming out of the arctic."

The rotation of the storm will help to bring in the cold air, known as an Arctic Maritime air mass.

After the storm has passed, cold air will be swept across the whole of Britain on Friday and snow and ice is expected across large parts of the country.

The cold temperatures are a bi-product of Storm Caroline, as the storm passes over Scotland it will draw in the cold air from the north sea.

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice is in place for swathes of the UK, including large parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales and the majority of the west of the country.

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The storm pictured at 12pm on Thursday as it passes over Scotland

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The high winds caused by Storm Caroline may lead to large waves along coastal routes

Temperatures at the end of the week will be in huge contrast to those felt earlier in the week, as they could fall as low as freezing.

The storm will also bring in moisture, which will fall as snow across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England on Friday and Saturday, where there is a yellow warning for snow and ice.

The Met Office warning will mainly affect the north of the country, however the heaviest and most frequent snow showers will become confined to northeast Scotland during Saturday.

The public are warned that icy conditions might lead to travel delays and stranded vehicles and passengers, as the arctic winds and cold front pushes in.

Storm Caroline to blast Britain: Latest weather maps

Thu, December 7, 2017

A yellow severe weather warning for wind has been issued for Thursday in the UK